Brittany Hanks, badass artist and designer chatted with Punk Globe about her work, check it out:

Growing up, what did you want to be?

When I was very young I wanted to be A comic book artist, a voice over artist, a singer, an actress, an archeologist, a veterinarian, and a few other things! At some point when I was in middle school, I told my parents that I really wanted to be a professional artist, and I asked them if they thought it was possible. They said yes, and from that day it was clear in my mind that above anything else I wanted to make art.

Was art always a passion for you?

Absolutely! We actually have a box full of drawings from when I was a kid that my step mom saved. I starting drawing very early, and self taught myself how to oil paint when I was in high school. I then went on to get my Bachelor of Fine arts in Painting from FAU.

Your artwork has been displayed on different mediums, from totes, to tees, to bedding. Can you tell us about where the idea to expand from canvas came from?

I have been doing shirt Design for Too Fast Brand for a few years now, when they recently asked me to design shoes and heels for them. After doing about 5 or so shoe designs (which will be coming out Spring/Summer of 2014) I really started getting more serious about the idea of expanding to including other items in my Etsy store. I have an interest in fashion so it was the next step and I find it has been a blast!

Can you tell readers what other brands you have teamed up with?

I have worked with Dead Cute Limited in the UK, Leland Edward, Spare Change 21, Lowbrow Art Company and Too Fast Brand in the US. Through them my shirts have sold at places such as Hot Topic and other retailers across the Us and Internationally.

To date, what pieces are you most proud of?

The two pieces that I am most proud of currently are “ Ghost” and “ Flower of the Dead” They are both oil paintings on wood. For “ Ghost” I decided to take as much time as I wanted to create a highly detailed, over the top painting. The result was a super tight, detailed folklore influenced figurative painting with lots of tiny skulls, lined in Swarovski Crystals, and all set into a Victorian frame.

“Flower of the Dead” is another one of my favorites. It features a full-body, Day of the dead girl in oil on handcut wood in the shape of a coffin, lined with nails.

Can you tell us about your artistic process?

Generally I start with an idea of an image I want to create. I usually do at least one really rough sketch to decide on placement and get my ideas down. If I feel like that's enough, I then move onto a very tight, detailed drawing. For me, that's the blueprint for a whole piece and I spend a lot of time making sure it's perfect before moving on, whether it's a painting, or a digital drawing for screen-printing onto shirts. If it is a digital piece, I then scan it into the computer and go from there. If it's a painting, I then transfer the whole image onto the wood or canvas I am going to work on. Pieces can take anywhere from a day to a month depending on the detail.

What style of art is most difficult to complete to your high standards?

Honestly I find every painting very difficult, and then very rewarding regardless of the style. I don't know why, but I always go through a cycle of being really excited about the piece when I first start the drawing. Then I get pretty frustrated in the middle and think, “ This isn’t going to go well”. By the end, I've usually resolved the piece and am happy with it, but always carry on what I would like to do better to the next piece.

While creating, do you prefer silence or do you listen to music?

I typically work to music, unless I have convinced myself that “ I'm only going to work on this piece for a minute” and it turns into hours of zoning out to silence, which happens!

Currently who are some of your favorite musicians?

I listen to a lot of different styles of music, from Punk and Ska to Miami Bass, Freestyle, Viking Metal and more! It's hard for me to pick favorites, but I'd say that Mindless Self Indulgence, The Misfits, Bonobo, and Nuetral Milk Hotel are some of my favorites. Currently I have been listening to a lot of Fad Gagdet and the “ Ghostly Grooves” station on Pandora that they introduced at Halloween but hey, everyday can be Halloween right? :)

What artists do you admire most?

All of the master painters. My fiancé and I got to visit the Louvre last year and it was an absolute dream. HR Giger (Who’s museum we also visited in Switzerland), Tara Mcpherson, David Stoupakis, Angry Blue, Godmachine, there are a lot!

Aside from creating artistic masterpieces, what do you do in your free time?

Working takes up a lot of my time, but I also love watching movies with my Fiancé. We are both Dr Who nerds, and last year we watched the entire series from the first episode from the 60s through now. I also try to jog or workout everyday, it keeps me sane.

What advice can you offer to aspiring artists?

Never give up. Practice, practice, practice. Every piece that you do, try to make the next one better. If you plan on going into art as a career, make sure that you take a few business classes. Never underestimate the advantage of conducting yourself in a professional manner- professionalism is one of the least talked about and most important parts of having an art career.

Can fans request personal pieces from you?

Of course! I do custom and commissioned work quite often, from oil paintings to tattoo designs!

Where can fans find your work?

You can find my Etsy store where I sell original art, prints, and fun things like purses with my art on them at
www.Etsy.com/shop/pajamasquid
I also am an avid Facebooker and have a Facebook Fanpage that I update daily with in progress art, giveaways, news, etc at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brittany-Hanks/226731347400312

Anything else you care to share with readers?

Just to work hard and follow your dreams!